I really wanted a seven-string guitar after building Karan’s 7. This urge was so bad that I designed a new body and headstock shape just to justify building myself a guitar. Weirdly enough, I build myself an instrument every 4-5 years. I challenge myself to make a milestone build as a personal benchmark to improve on each subsequent model. I named this guitar Vaalbara because the figuring of the redwood top looks topographical – like that of a supercontinent. The name is also a nod to the way I managed to design this shape (and my favorite ERRA song). I took a few of my favorite body shapes and traced them over each other, and left the design on the floor for a week. I’d add a line or curve occasionally, and eventually, a body shape appeared. I had to design a fitting headstock as well, and since there were only so many ways to design a paddle-type headstock, my options were limited.
The redwood top I’d saved for a few years and always loved how unique it looked. It’s not your typical redwood. This is a piece of sinker redwood, super light, fragile but also incredibly figured with a mixture of burl, flame, and quilt. The natural blackened areas set it apart from the other pieces of redwood in my stash. The body is a super streaky and colorful piece of Black Limba, and the fretboard is a special piece of leopard ebony. The neck is a solid, gorgeous, perfectly quartersawn piece of purple Indian rosewood. My favorite detail is the orange sapwood which appeared while carving. It looks like a beautiful sunset.
It’s finished in the usual fashion with Odies Super Duper Dark Oil, Wood Butter, and Wax and strung up with StringJoy 11-70, with the 56 replaced with a 52 due to the fundamental of the 6th string overpowering the dropped 7th. Tuned to Drop E and powered by McNelly Pickups Custom Stagger Swagger V2’s, a staple of many of my standard builds, only this set has tops made by myself, and the bridge has been maxed out on winds.
Specs:
Body : Black Limba
Top : Sinker Redwood
Neck: QSawn Indian Rosewood
Fretboard: Leopard Ebony, 22 frets, 26.4in Scale length
Luminlay Dots
Jescar Frets
Finished with Odie’s oils and waxes
Graphtech TUSQ nut, custom progressive slots
StringJoy Strings 11-70
Hipshot Hardware
Knobs by 490 Manufacturing
Neck Ferrules from Lee Valley
Pickups: McNelly Stagger Swagger V2 Customs with Max wound Bridge and custom bobbin tops
Lutherie... 
Hey Alexander, I hope everything is going well for you. I was wondering if you use Odies on your necks too? I like it on bodies and use it often but never tried it on a neck. What do you think? Thanks for your time, Jim
Hey Jim! I’ve used it on all my guitars necks and bodies since 2014! Also do you have a website?
Hi Alexander, to answer your question on a website, no I don’t have one. I mainly build high end partscasters and one off hybrids. I source my necks and bodies from guys with CNC machines. I know what makes a great guitar an instrument and guys love the stains I do and the satin oil finishes. I keep them very affordable for the average working man. I wish I was on your level, you my friend are a true Master Luthier! Your guitars, Crimson Guitars, Barlow Guitars and William Jeffrey Jones Guitars are my favs, beautiful work and amazing talent! Thanks for your time answering my questions. Take Care, JIm
Man I appreciate the praise it’s flattering to be placed with those guys. William Jeffry Jones and I became friends on Instagram, he’s reached out back in 2018 and i fanboyed so hard. I have a folder of pictures of his work and his designs served as my main inspiration for my builds. I wear it on my sleeve . He’s such an amazing guy to talk to.
I wonder if William knows about Odies? I know he mainly uses Danish Oil, I use it too but Odies is soooo much easier! Also it’s cool to know that he is a good guy! I reached out in the past to luthiers with a question and they were not so nice, very secretive. I wasn’t trying to steal their trade secrets, just curious. Thank you very much for taking the time to talk to and help me! Thanks again, Jim
Yea I know that feeling, when I was starting out I learned everything from seven string org forum. Admired a lutherie named Hufschmidt and i asked him a few questions after he posted a series of videos about his fretwork and he was rude and deleted the post and reuploaded it. Most guys around are super chill and helpful. Really small world it is and if someone’s mean everyone knows
Hey Alexander, I had to write you back, when you mentioned Hufschmid Guitars I about fell out of my chair! He was one of the guys I reached out to about his oil finish that he uses because his work is awesome and he was very rude! Quoting Disney It’s a small world after all lol… Take Care, JIm
Yup I believe he uses tru oil or some
Other similar varnish. I used to use it but when I got Odie’s It’s all I use, I may try it again with some tips my buddy Kris gave me
I have been building custom guitars for 17 years now, and I have to tell you that this guitar is simply beautiful! I too am a fan of Odies Oil. Keep up the good work and I hope to see more of your awesome work in the future. Thanks, Jim
Thanks for the kind words Jim!!!
Do you post your work here on WordPress or have a site I’d love to check your work out as well!!!